Don’t be fooled by it’s interesting appearance, a large stalk with huge leaves and umbrella-shaped clusters of white flowers, this noxious weed is extremely dangerous, and can cause 3rd degree burns.

The burns can be caused by simply brushing against the bristles, while the sap the plant emits also irritates the skin “causing phototoxicity, severe damage to the skin through exposure to sunlight and UV rays,” according to Science Alert.

This chemical irritation of the skin can cause painful blisters, shown here, that take months heal and cause lifelong scars.

The weed has proved very hard to stop spreading. By the time the plant is noticed, it has probably already spread it’s seeds, as each plant can drop thousands.

“In some cases, a giant hogweed infestation is best controlled using several different methods in combination or in succession – in other words, a two, three, or even four-pronged attack plan,” the New York Department of Environmental Conservation reported.

Affective methods include tedious work, such as cutting the plant roots, removing seed heads, eliminating them when they’re still young, and using large amounts of herbicide, all while wearing intricate protective gear.